Deschutes County Commission takes no
position on Badlands Wilderness

County takes no position on Badlands The Bulletin
By Chris Barker
Published: March 31, 2005

Stepping into the divisive arena of wilderness designation, the Deschutes County
Commission on Wednesday voted 2-1 to take no position on whether vehicles should
be allowed in the Badlands.

Commissioners Tom DeWolf and Dennis Luke voted to take no action.

It was a compromise crafted by DeWolf after it became clear that there was no
board consensus on the issue.

Commissioner Mike Daly voted against the motion.

"Since two votes do not exist to do what I believe is the right thing, I will
reluctantly vote in favor of Deschutes County taking no position regarding the
wilderness designation of the Badlands," DeWolf said, reading from a prepared
statement.

Only the U.S. Congress can designate an area as wilderness. The label closes
sensitive areas to motorized use.

Nevertheless, both motorized vehicle proponents and wilderness advocates have
fiercely lobbied the commission regarding the Badlands.

Deschutes County received 1,572 comments on the proposal — 75 percent of them in
favor of a wilderness designation, according to County Forester Joe Stutler.

A county decision could have been used by Oregon's Congressional delegation to
push for a wilderness designation.

Daly said he favored a recommendation to designate the Badlands as wilderness
but keep all or part of the 8.5-mile Route 8 running through the area open to
vehicles.

He called the decision the most controversial subject he has handled during his
four-year tenure on the commission.

"There are too many people on both sides of this issue to have a clear mandate,"
Daly said, reading from a prepared statement. "I represent all of the people of
Deschutes County — not just one group or another. Without an agreement or a
compromise on leaving at least a portion of the central road open, I will not
support a wilderness designation for the Badlands."

Luke said he's spent time with a Boy Scout troop in the Badlands and even wrote
a college paper on rock formations there.

Closing the area to some users doesn't sit right with him, he said.

"I have a concern when you close any public lands to the public," Luke said, in
an interview after the vote. "I don't think the case has been made that this
meets the criteria of a wilderness."

DeWolf disagreed.

Noting that he enjoyed riding snowmobiles and motorcycles in the past, he said
he nevertheless sees the Badlands as a place where local residents can enjoy
solitude without being interrupted by the noise and exhaust of vehicles.

"Wilderness designation will not close off access," DeWolf said. "It will
require people to get out of their cars or off their motorcycles and walk."
Wilderness advocates, several of whom attended the county commission meeting,
were disappointed in the vote.

"I think that the no action (taken) today was a disservice to the present and
future generations of Central Oregonians," said Bill Marlett, executive director
of the Oregon Natural Desert Association (ONDA).

The Bend-based group has long fought for a wilderness designation of the
Badlands.

Marilyn Miller, conservation chair of the Juniper Group of the Sierra Club, said
the vote went against public opinion.